The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-11-05
Col. Bryant to Mr.. Armstrong.

wi. d. W. DFydnts prOIliUeHt
Democratic member of the Caroline
county bar. and widely known in the
State. has addressed the following
strong letter to Mr.. Alexander Arm
strong on the political situation In
Maryland
Hon. alexander Armstrong:
My Dear Sri think the Demo-
cratic party Of Maryland should re-
jolce that there can still be found
among Its representative men. one at
least who refuses to follow, for sem
timeDt, the bosses and leaders OF
Maryland to dishonored grave or
an unworthy victory. With Mr..
Dennis and other honorable men I
held an official relation with the Ora
torio Hall Democratic meeting held
in Baltimore city last February.
With Mr.. Dennis and others we then
charged that under cover of the Dem
ocratic party many frauds had been
practiced, through a series of years,
in Baltimore city. and the conviction
of score of judges and clerks Of cleo
tiOn, by impartial Baltimore city
juries, establishes beyond question
that half the the truth had not been
told, nor half the frauds at the ballot
boxes revealed. We protested in the
name of an outraged sense of public
justice, and that our political leaders,
chargable with these great wrongs,
should be disowned and dishonored
by that party. to the maintenance Of
whose principles of honesty and good
government we had given a lifetime
devotion.
"How were our appeals considered?
We were told that we were at heart
the severest enemies of the Demo.
cratic party, seeking only personal
anSf political ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and
they made our best endeavors for
honorable party success the subject Of
ridicule and approbrium and they
called US impracticables, saying that
the practical politics of the party in
power required that elections in
Maryland should continue that party
in Office forever; that Democratic
faith and loyalty required of every
votes submission to bribery at the
primaries and stuff1ng of ballot-boxes
at elections; that all means were jus.
tifiabie, if necessary. to keep Demo-
Gratis in Office and Republicans out.
} We have become alarmed at so much
practical politics. and at last begin to
realize that our prejudices are strong
er than our patriotism.
81 remember many grievous
wrongs visited upon the citizens of
Maryland by the Republican party
during the war; and now when the
poisoned chalice is returned to their
lips, and the Democratic party, by
wholesale bribery. ballot-box ROBBERY.
and fraudulent registration. is dis
franchising Republicans. I am sure
l am as heartily ashamed of such
party as they::have ever been. 1 feel
sad, as Democrat, to see my party
descend to such state of political
degradation, for remember that in
Maryland it was once a high honor
to be a Democrat. Is 1t really so
now when so many political iniqui,
ties charged and proved, upheld by
those in authority? How long. think
you, sir. that the proud, sensitive
men of Maryland will approve and
continue in power and place these
party leaders who make merchan-
disc of those great principles of Dem
ocratic liberty that have given en-
lightment and law to the State and
nation?
''If the Republicans in New York,
for the best interests of their State.
could vote against Judge Folger and
for Governor Cleveland. why can not
Democrats in Maryland illustrate
their virtues and vote for Mr.. Brooks
and against Mr.. Jackson? For it is
self-evident that our people are not
free unless they can change their ruI-
ers. Are we free in Maryland, when
the men who call themselves Demo-
Gratis rely upon corrupt means to re-
tain their party supremacy?
1.-The election of Mr.. Brooks would
remove for many years to come the
machine system of corrupt primaries
fraudulent registration and ballot.
box rObberies that have made po!iti-
cally conspicuous many men in
Maryland. who would have done the
Democratic party great honor had
they remained with the party of
their first choice. that is. if they ever
had party except the party of Office
and of spoils.
LAS a Democrat, who voted for
John G. Breckenridge, Horace Gree
ly, General Hancock. Samuel j. Til.
den, and Grover Cleveland for presi-
dents, and, without personal refer
ence, prefer an open enemy to a
treacherous friend, and will vote for
Mr.. Brooks, / agree with you that